Conversion arrangement for suction cleaners



Aug. 12, 1952 E. J. BALLUFF CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FQR SUCTIQN CLEANERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1947 Aug. l2, 1952 E. J. BALLUFF CONVERSION ARRANGEMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS y Filed Dec. 24. 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 12, 1952 CONVERSION ARRAN GEMENT Fon S'UCTIoN CLEANERS Edwin J., Balluii", Livonia Township, Wayne County, Mich., assignor to Eureka yWilliams Corporation, Bloomington, Ill., a corporation of Michigan Application December 24, 1947, Serial No. 793,623

8 Claims.

This invention relates to suction cleaners and has particular relation to a new and improved conversion arrangement therefor. More particularly, the invention has reference to a conversion arrangement for a type of floor cleaner which is extensively in use today and in which the axis of the motor and fan is vertically arranged and the fan is arranged below the motor and rearwardly of the nozzle with an air inlet in the nozzle on the under side of the fan chamber.

While many types of converter arrangements have heretofore been suggested for cleaners of this type, they are not entirely satisfactory due to the difficulty of connecting and disconnect-Y ing the converter, and also in some instances to the fact that the floor cleaner cannot be conveniently moved around when the converter is attached thereto.

The present invention contemplates a converter arrangement in which the converter is insertable from the front of the cleaner and in which the converter functions to support' the nozzle and the agitator of the cleaner above and out of operative engagement with the surface covering.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved suction cleaner and converter arrangement therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved converter arrangement for a suction cleaner which is simpler in construction and easier to use. y

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and will be understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which there are two sheets, .which by way of illustration show a preferred embodiment and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural-changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without de parting from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a Side elevational view of a Suction cleaner of the type hereinbefore referred to;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the cleaner with the converter assembled thereto;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom r`planlviewnofv the cleaner shown in Fig.

1 but with :the converter removed; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentaryv planview of thecon verter.

As shown in Fig. l, a.suction.cleanerembodying the invention comprises a body or' casing I0.

having a rug nozzle I2 at the forward end thereof and arranged for movement on a Surface vcovering with the mouth. of the nozzle in operativeA filtering bag 20 receives the Adirt laden, air from v the fan and separates the dirt from the air while permitting the escape Aof the air, I

The casing or body Ill includes an form of a fan 24 arranged in the fan chamber 26. The nozzle I2 extends across the front.of the cleaner and has an inlet mouth 28 presented toward the surface covering. A ,rotary brushor., agitator 30 is rotatably journaled in thenozzle, and so that the beating and/or sweeping-ele-. ments 32 thereof may beat and/ or sweep the Sur.

face covering which is presented to the nozzle mouth. y

During operation of the'motor the fan 24 Linduces a flow of air into the nozzle mouth 28 andL also ,tendsY to raise the Surface-coveringagainstL the lips of the nozzle mouth-where' it may-be acted upon by the. rotary brush 30.

bag 20.

v The shaft of a pulley-40. An endless ,elastic ybelt42 running on-the pulley l4i) and on a pulley formed-onthe rotary brush 30 rotatesthe brush 30 duringoperation of the fan, the belt 42 being arranged in the conduit 34. 5 l

The conduit 34 is provided with a' downwardly facing converter port 44 .which inthe present 'in-f Stance is Separated into two portions by a part:-

45 of the bottom plate 46 which forms vthe bottom wall of` the conduit 34 and also the rear lip 50 of the nozzle mouth 28. This; port v44 isnor-fv mally closed by a valve 52 which maybe pivotally mounted Aon ahinge 54 -on the bottomplate 4B- and biased by coil springs 56 to a position to close I0 whereby the [same` may. `beelectric motor 22 and a suction creating means'inthev 'Thejvv ladenv air,V then iiows through the 'conduit34 to the inlet 36. of the fan chamber and from the fan-1 chamber it is vpumped into the dirt collecting the motor 22 drivesthe'fan 24. and projects through the fan air inlet opening- 36 into the conduit 34 where itis provided with 3 the port 44. The valve 52 is provided with a cutout or notch 60 for accommodating the strands of the belt 42, as shown in Fig. 3.

A rib 62 may be provided depending from the outside wall of the fan chamber into the conduit 34 above the lower strand of the belt 42 so as to block the space between such strand and the top wall of the conduit 34 so as to cooperate with the valve 52 to shut oif the flow of air through the conduit 34 when the valve 52 is positionedas shown in Figs. 2 and 3. During normal cleaner operation the valve 52, however, is arranged to close the port 44.

The lower side of the bottom plate 45 and the nozzle are provided with guide means comprising a seat indicated generally at 64 and guide pins B6. The guide pins 66 project downwardly from the nozzle lips, and the seat 64 consists of two side flanges 68 and a back flange 'I0 projecting downwardly from the bottom plate 46 at the sides and. along the rear of the converter port 44.

The converter consists of a hollow air conducting member indicated generally at I2 and having a socket indicated generally at I4 at one end thereof and a port or opening 'I6 at the other end thereof. The socket 14 is adapted to detachably receive a coupling member 80 on the end of an air conducting hose 82 with the other end of which various tools may be associated. The other end '84 of Vthe converter, sometimes referredto as the inserted end, is adapted to seat in the seat 64, the end 84 being received in the flange l and the sides of the converter adjacent the end I4 being provided with ribs 86 which are received in the side flanges 68 as shown in Fig. 3.

When the converter 12 is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 2 relative to the cleaner, the converter opening 'I6 is aligned with the converter port 44 and in air ow relationship therewith so that air may now flow through the converter "I2, the opening 16, and the port 44 into the conduit 34. The bottom side 90 of that part of the converter which is inserted beneath the cleaner is adapted to lie flat on the floor or surface covering, and a shoulder 92 projecting upwardly from the upper side of the converter is adapted to engage the inside of the-forward nozzle lip 94 so as to prevent the converter from being pulled away from the cleaner.

In using the converter, the end 84 thereof is inserted below the cleaner from the front thereof and more particularly between thenozzle I2 and the surface or surface covering on which it is supported. The pins 66 locatethe place at 4which the converter is to be inserted below the nozzle and-guide the converter towardv its seat 64. As

the converter is inserted below the nozzle, the front edge of the nozzle will ride up on the sur-` face which leads to the shoulder 92 and when the shoulder 92 clears the lip 94, the latter will drop in front of the shoulder thereby securing the converter in operative position with respect tothe cleaner. When it is desired to remove the converter'from the cleaner, the front edge of the cleaner' is lifted slightly so that the lip 94 will clear the shoulder 92.

The upper surface of the converter may be provided with a recessed portion 98 to avoid interference of the converter with the elements 32. 'I'he converter when inserted thus functions to support the nozzle of the cleaner and the agitator above and out of operative engagement with the surface covering. The valve 52 forms a closure for the converter port and is arranged to be engaged and shifted to a non-obstructing position relative to the port 44 by the con'verter as the converter is arranged in air conducting relation with the port 44, and to this end the valve 52 is provided with depending fingers 99 projecting through slots in the bottom plate 46 and arranged so as to be engaged by tracks |00 alongside of the opening 19 in the converter.

The fingers 99 normally are positioned as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, but are engaged by the tracks IDU of the converter and shifted to the full line position as shown in Fig. 2, thereby to shift the valve member or closure 52 to a position to obstruct and shut olf the flow of air through the conduit 34 from the nozzle I2 to the fan. With this arrangement the rotary brush 39 may continue to rotate and the cutout 60 in the valve 52 accommodates the strands of .the belt 42 while substantially sealing around the same. When the converter 'I2 is removed from the cleaner, the springs 56 will restore the converter port closure 52 to a position to close the port 44.

While I have illustrated and described a pre,- ferredembodiment of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not Wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In asuction cleaner having a body portion and arug nozzle and arranged for movement on a surface covering with vthe mouth of said nozzle in operative relation with respect to said surface covering, a yfan arranged at the rear of said nozzle and provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, an air conducting conduit arranged below said fan and extending from said nozzle to said fan inlet, a motor for driving said fan and having a shaft extending through said inlet into said conduit, a surface covering agitator in said nozzle,4 a belt extending through said conduitand connected to said agitator and shaft for driving said agitator during operation of said motor land fan, said conduit being provided on its bottom side with a downwardly facing converter port, a converter guide on the under side of said nozzle and presented toward the front of said cleaner, said guide including a flange surrounding a portion of said converter port, a hollow air conducting converter insertable in said guide from the front of said cleaner and having an opening therein adapted to be shiftedV into airconducting relation with said converter port, said converter when so arranged supporting the nozzle ofthe cleaner and said agitator above and out of operative engagement with said surfacev covering, anda converter port closure normally obstructing said converter port and arranged to be shifted within said conduit to nonobstructing position relative to said port when said converterv is arranged in air conducting relaer according to'claim 1 wherein said converter port closure is provided with portions projecting below the bottom wall of said conduit and adapted to be engaged by said converter upon movement thereof into air conducting relation with said port, so as to effect shifting movement of said closure relative to said port and said conduit.

4. A converter arrangement for a suction cleaner according to claim 1 wherein said converter port closure is hinged to the bottom wall of said conduit and biased to a position to close said port, said closure being shiftable to close said conduit against the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet and having provisions for accommodating said belt.

5. In a suction cleaner having a body portion and a rug nozzle and arranged for movement on a surface covering with the mouth of said nozzle in operative relation with respect to said surface covering, a fan arranged at the rear of said nozzle and provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, an air conducting conduit arranged below Said fan and extending from said nozzle to said fan inlet, a motor for driving said fan, a surface covering agitator in said nozzle and connected to said motor whereby the agitator is driven during operation of said motor and fan, said conduit being provided with a converter port, a converter guide on said nozzle and presented toward the front of said cleaner, said guide including a angesurrounding a portion of said converter port, a hollow air conducting converter insertable in said guide from the front of said cleaner and beneath said nozzle and having an opening therein adapted to be shifted into air conducting relation with said converter port, said converter when so arranged supporting the nozzle of the cleaner and said agitator above and out of operative engagement with said surface covering, and a converter port closure normally obstructing said converter port and arranged to be shifted to non-obstructing position relative to said port and to shut off the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet when said converter is arranged in air conducting relation with said port.

6. A converter arrangement for a suction cleaner according to claim 5 wherein said converter port closure is arranged to be engaged by said converter and shifted to said non-obstructing l position by said converter upon movement thereof into air conducting relation with said port.

7. A converter arrangement for a suction cleaner according to claim 5 wherein said converter port closure is biased to a position to normally close said converter port and is provided with portions adapted to be engaged by said converter upon movement thereof into air conducting relation with said port whereby said converter port closure is shifted to a position within said conduit so as to shut off the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet.

8. In a Isuction cleaner having a body portion and a rug nozzle and arranged for movement on a surface covering with the mouth of said nozzle in yoperative relation with respect to said surface covering, a fan arranged at the rear of said nozzle and provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, an air conducting conduit arranged below said fan and extending from said nozzle to said fan inlet, a motor for driving said fan, a surface covering agitator in said nozzle and connected to said motor whereby said agitator is driven during operation of said motor and fan, said conduit being provided on its bottom side with a downwardly facing converter port, a hollow air conducting converter having an opening therein for registry with said converter port, said converter being shiftable under said nozzle and from the front of said cleaner into air conducting relation with said converter port, said converter when so arranged supporting the nozzle of the cleaner and said agitator above and out of operative engagement with said surface covering, and a normally closed closure for said converter port constructed and arranged to be shifted by said converter to close said conduit against the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet when said converter is arranged in air conducting relation with said port.

EDWIN J. BALLUFF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,227,142 Hoover May 22', 1917 1,773,961 Dance Aug. 26, 1930 2,072,696 Whitaker Mar. 2, 1937 2,126,396 Kitto Aug. 9, 1938 2,174,595' Pierce Oct. 3, 1939 

